An Englishman In New York

The lyrics present New York as overwhelming, noisy, and full of bizarre contrasts. A parade of people, shops, fashions, food, and public scenes turns the city into a place where almost anything can appear side by side. The mood shifts between comic amazement and discomfort: the speaker seems fascinated by the spectacle, but also sees cruelty, prejudice, and vulgarity within it.

Several images make the city feel like a surreal stage. “Strange apparatus” suggests unfamiliar sights and social customs that are hard to make sense of, while “street alligators” may picture tough, dangerous, or simply strange people moving through urban life. The repeated phrase “No way street” sounds like an expression of disbelief, as if the scenes are too unlikely to be real. The reference to “spitting the world right in the eye” conveys defiance: the city, or its people, refuse to behave politely or fit expectations.

The lyrics combine jokes, cultural references, and disturbing scenes, so their attitude is not simply celebratory or critical. Some lines appear to mock consumerism and the desire to own tasteless curiosities; others expose exclusion and antisemitism directly. The recurring Anglophile figure may be an outsider trying to guide the listener through this unfamiliar world, though the lyrics leave his role unclear. Overall, New York is portrayed as both thrillingly inventive and deeply unsettling.